Signal transfer apparatus

ABSTRACT

A signal transfer apparatus includes a plurality of input connectors to which a plurality of signals are input from a first electronic device; and a single output connector which is connected to the plurality of input connectors and transfers the plurality of signals to a second electronic device. The length of a plurality of cables connecting the single output connector and the plurality of input connectors differs from each other so that the plurality of input connectors do not overlap each other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/607,146 filed Oct. 28, 2009 which claims priority from Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2009-0021271, filed Mar. 12, 2009 in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Apparatuses consistent with the exemplary embodiment relate totransferring signals, and more particularly, to a signal transferapparatus which transfers a plurality of signals output from anelectronic device to another electronic device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Image signals or audio signals output from an electronic device need tobe transferred to another electronic device to operate the electronicdevices in association with each other. For example, image signals aretransferred from a digital versatile disk (DVD) player or a set-top boxto a television (TV) to reproduce the image signals. When an imagesignal is transferred as a component type, three component signalsincluding a luminance signal Y and color difference signals Pb and Prare transmitted to a TV, which includes terminals to receive suchsignals. There are various signal transfer methods other than acomponent type such as a composite type, and thus a TV should includevarious terminals to receive signals transferred in various manners.

Recently, there have been many efforts to miniaturize electronicdevices. For example, it may be necessary to miniaturize an electronicdevice to fabricate electronic devices such as a thin wall-mounted TV.For the miniaturized electronic devices, the size and number ofterminals to transmit and receive signals to and from another electronicdevice need to be reduced.

Additionally, the terminals are typically disposed on a rear surface ofthe electronic device. Electronic devices such as a wall-mounted TV arefixedly mounted on a wall. The wall-mounted TV includes cables totransfer audio signals or image signals and connectors to connect thewall-mounted TV to external devices, and these cables and connectors maymake it difficult to closely attach the wall-mounted TV to the wall.Accordingly, there is a need for a connecter that facilitates closeattachment of the wall-mounted TV to a wall.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments address at least the above problems and/ordisadvantages and other disadvantages not described above. Also, theexemplary embodiments are not required to overcome the disadvantagesdescribed above, and may not overcome any of the problems describedabove.

One or more exemplary embodiments provide a signal transfer apparatus toreduce the size and number of terminals of an electronic device.

According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided asignal transfer apparatus, including a plurality of input connectors towhich a plurality of signals are input; and a single output connectorwhich is connected to the plurality of input connectors and outputs theplurality of signals.

The length of a plurality of cables connecting the single outputconnector and the plurality of input connectors may differ from eachother so that the plurality of input connectors do not overlap eachother.

The single output connector may include an output terminal which isconnected to the second electronic device; wherein the output terminalmay include a plurality of signal regions which are connected to theplurality of signals input to the plurality of input connectors,respectively; and a ground region which is connected to grounds of theplurality of input connectors.

The plurality of signal regions and the ground region may be formedlengthwise along the single output terminal.

An insulating material may be disposed between the plurality of signalregions and the ground region.

The output terminal may be formed in a pin shape.

The plurality of input connectors may include a first input connector towhich a luminance signal Y is input; a second input connector to which afirst color difference signal Pb is input; and a third input connectorto which a second color difference signal Pr is input.

The length of the plurality of cables connecting the single outputconnector and the first, second, and third input connectors may differfrom each other.

The single output connector may include an output terminal which isconnected to the second electronic device; a first signal region whichis connected to the luminance signal Y; a second signal region which isconnected to the first color difference signal Pb; a third signal regionwhich is connected to the second color difference signal Pr; and aground region which is connected to grounds of the first, second, andthird input connectors.

The first, second, and third signal regions and the ground region may beformed lengthwise along the output terminal.

An insulating material may be disposed between the first, second, andthird signal regions and the ground region.

The plurality of input connectors may be connected to external cables.

The plurality of input connectors may be formed as a female connector.

The plurality of signals may include at least one image signal.

The second electronic device may be a television (TV).

The TV may include a terminal into which the output connector isinserted.

The inserting direction of the output connector may be parallel with adisplay plane of the TV.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects will be more apparent by describing certainexemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a signal transfer apparatus according toan exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the signal transfer apparatus of FIG. 1coupled to an electronic device; and

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the signal transfer apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments are described in greater detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

In the following description, like drawing reference numerals are usedfor like elements, even in different drawings. The matters defined inthe description, such as detailed construction and elements, areprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention.However, it is apparent that the present invention can be practicedwithout those specifically defined matters. Also, well-known functionsor constructions are not described in detail since they would obscurethe invention with unnecessary detail.

An exemplary embodiment relates to a signal transfer apparatus whichtransfers a plurality of signals from a first electronic device to asecond electronic device. In this exemplary embodiment, a signaltransfer apparatus transfers a plurality of image signals output from adigital versatile disk (DVD) player or a set-top box corresponding tothe first electronic device to a TV corresponding to the secondelectronic device in a component type signal transfer. However,embodiments are not limited to these electronic devices. In addition,embodiments may also be used to transfer audio signals or other signalsother than image signals.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a signal transfer apparatus 100 accordingto an exemplary embodiment, FIG. 2 is a schematic view in which thesignal transfer apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 is coupled to an electronicdevice (TV 200), and FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the signal transferapparatus 100 of FIG. 1.

The signal transfer apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodimentincludes a plurality of input connectors 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, a singleoutput connector 120, and a plurality of cables 130 a, 130 b, 130 c.

A plurality of signals output from the first electronic device, such asa DVD player or a set-top box, is input to the plurality of inputconnectors 110 a, 110 b, 110 c. The image signals are transferred as acomponent type in this exemplary embodiment. The signal transferapparatus 100 includes the first input connector 110 a to which aluminance signal Y is input, the second connector 110 b to which a firstcolor difference signal Pb is input, and the third connector 110 c towhich a second color difference signal Pr is input. Referring to FIG. 2,the first electronic device (not shown) is connected to the plurality ofinput connectors 110 a, 110 b, 110 c through external cables 111 a, 111b, 111 c, and the second electronic device (TV) 200 is connected to theoutput connector 120.

Because three component signals Y, Pb, Pr are transferred in thisexemplary embodiment, three input connectors 110 a, 110 b, 110 c areused. However, the number of input connectors is not limited thereto,and, if the number of signals to be transferred is increased or reduced,more or less input connectors may be used.

The single output connector 120 is connected to all the input connectors110 a, 110 b, 110 c, and transfers the plurality of signals to thesecond electronic device, such as the TV 200. The number of inputconnectors 110 a, 110 b, 110 c is plural, but only one output connector120 is provided as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As described in detail below,the output connector 120 includes a plurality of signal regions 122 a,122 b, 122 c which are respectively connected to the cables 130 a, 130b, 130 c and receive the signals input to the input connectors 110 a,110 b, 110 c via the cables 130 a, 130 b, 130 c. Accordingly, in theexemplary embodiment, a single output connector 120 is used to transferthe plurality of signals.

Therefore, the TV 200 includes only one terminal 201 to receive theluminance signal Y and the first and second color difference signals Pb,Pr from the output connector 120, as shown in FIG. 2. Because the TV 200according to the exemplary embodiment requires a lesser number ofterminals, e.g., only one terminal 201, the TV 200 may be miniaturizedand/or slimmer.

The cables 130 a, 130 b, 130 c connects the single output connector 120to the input connectors 110 a, 110 b, 110 c. Referring to FIG. 1, thelength of each of the cables 130 a, 130 b, 130 c differs from each otherso that the input connectors 110 a, 110 b, 110 c are staggered and donot overlap each other. In other words, in order to prevent the inputconnectors 110 a, 110 b, 110 c from overlapping, except for the shortestcable, the length of each of the cables 110 a, 110 b, 110 c issuccessively longer than the next shortest cable. For example, thelength of the cables may be selected so that a difference in lengthbetween two cables is at least greater than a length of the inputconnectors 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, or greater than a sum of the length ofthe input connectors 110 a, 110 b, 110 c and a length of outputconnectors of the cables 111 a, 111 b, 111 c coupled to the inputconnectors 110 a, 110 b and 110 c. FIG. 2 illustrates the inputconnectors 110 a, 110 b, 110 c which do not overlap each other.

If the length of the cables 130 a, 130 b, 130 c is the same, the inputconnectors 110 a, 110 b, 110 c may overlap each other and thus theoverlapped input connectors 110 a, 110 b, 110 c may occupy a substantialvolume behind the TV 200. For example, if the TV 200 is a wall-mountedTV, the overlapped input connectors 110 a, 110 b, 110 c may be disposedbetween a rear surface of the wall-mounted TV and a wall, and, thus, theoverlapped input connectors 110 a, 110 b, 110 c may occupy a substantialspace between the rear surface and the wall. Accordingly, it may bedifficult to closely attach the TV 200 to the wall. Although only threeinput connectors 110 a, 110 b, 110 c are provided in this exemplaryembodiment, the wall-mounted TV may require more input connectors. Thatis, because the number of peripheral devices connected to the TV 200 maybe increased, transfer of various signals such as audio signals otherthan image signals may be required. Even with a large number of inputconnectors, the signal transfer apparatus 100 according to the exemplaryembodiment facilitates close attachment of the wall-mounted TV to thewall because the input connectors 110 a, 110 b, 110 c do not overlapeach other.

Referring to FIG. 1, the single output connector 120 includes an outputterminal 121, the signal regions 122 a, 122 b, 122 c, and a groundregion 123.

The output terminal 121 is inserted into the terminal 201 of the TV 200to be connected to the TV 200, as shown in FIG. 2. That is, theinserting direction of the output terminal 121 is parallel to a displayplane of the TV 200. Accordingly, although the output terminal 121 isinserted into the terminal 201, the space between the rear surface ofthe TV 200 and the wall to accommodate the output connector 120 isminimized so that the TV 200 may be more closely attached to the wall.The output terminal 121 is formed in a pin shape as shown in FIG. 1, butthe output terminal 121 may be configured in various shapes.

The signal regions 122 a, 122 b, 122 c receive the signals from theinput connectors 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, respectively, via the cables 110a, 110 b, 110 c. Referring to FIG. 3, the first signal region 122 areceives and outputs the luminance signal Y through the first inputconnector 110 a, the second signal region 122 b receives and outputs thefirst color difference signal Pb through the second input connector 110b, and the third signal region 122 c receives and outputs the secondcolor difference signal Pr through the third input connector 110 c.

The ground region 123 is connected to ground points 140, 142, 144 of thefirst, second, and third input connectors 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, as shownin FIG. 3.

The first, second, and third signal regions 122 a, 122 b, 122 c, and theground region 123 are formed lengthwise along the output terminal 121 asshown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, although only one output terminal 121 isprovided, each signal Y, Pb, Pr is individually transferred to the TV200. An insulating material 125 is disposed between the first, second,and third signal regions 122 a, 122 b, 122 c and the ground region 123.The insulating material 125 obviates the plurality of signals from beingjammed up.

According to the exemplary embodiment as described above, the pluralityof signals Y, Pb, Pr is transferred to the TV 200 using a single outputconnector 120 so that the TV 200 needs only one terminal 201 to connectthe output connector 120. Accordingly, the number of the terminalsmounted to the TV 200 is reduced, and thus it allows the TV 200 to beminiaturized. Moreover, as the lengths of the plurality of cables 130 a,130 b, 130 c connecting the output connector 120 and the plurality ofinput connectors 110 a, 110 b, 110 c differ from each other, the inputconnectors 110 a, 110 b, 110 c do not overlap. Therefore, if the TV 200according to an exemplary embodiment is a wall-mounted TV, thewall-mounted TV may be closely attached to the wall. The TV 200according to an exemplary embodiment may be a light emitting diode (LED)TV, which is a substantially thin device.

The foregoing exemplary embodiments and advantages are merely exemplaryand are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. Thepresent teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses.Also, the description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to beillustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims, and manyalternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

1. An electronic apparatus comprising: a cable assembly including: a first input connector to receive a luminance signal, a second input connector to receive a first color difference signal, a third input connector to receive a second color difference signal, and a single pin shaped output terminal having a first signal region to output the luminance signal, a second signal region to output the first color difference signal, and a third signal region to output the second color difference signal; and a display unit including a housing and an input terminal provided on a rear side of the housing, the input terminal adapted to connect with the single pin shaped output terminal to receive the luminance signal and the first and second color difference signals via the cable assembly.
 2. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear side of the housing has a recessed region, and the input terminal extends from the housing to the recessed region in a downward direction such that single pin shaped output terminal is inserted by pushing in an upward direction into the input terminal.
 3. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear side of the housing has a recessed region, and at least a portion of the input terminal is located at the recessed region such that at least a portion of the single pin shaped output terminal with cables extending therefrom is disposed within the recessed region when the cable assembly is connected to the input terminal.
 4. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cable assembly comprises a plurality of cables disposed between the single pin shaped output terminal and the first, second, and third input connectors, and each of the plurality of cables has a length which differs from the lengths of the other cables of the plurality cables so that the first, second, and third input connectors do not overlap each other.
 5. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pin shaped output terminal further comprises a ground region which is connected to ground points of the first, second, and third input connectors.
 6. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first signal region, the second signal region, the third signal region and the ground region are sequentially provided lengthwise along the single pin shaped output terminal, and an insulating material is disposed between each of the first signal region, the second signal region, the third signal region, and the ground region.
 7. A method comprising: providing a cable assembly including a first input connector, a second input connector, a third input connector, and a single pin shaped output terminal; connecting the single pin shaped output terminal of the cable assembly into an input terminal provided on a rear side of a housing of a display unit; receiving a luminance signal via a first input connector of the cable assembly; receiving a first color difference signal via a second input connector of the cable assembly; and receiving a second color difference signal via a third input connector of the cable assembly, wherein the single pin shaped output terminal has a first signal region to output the luminance signal, a second signal region to output the first color difference signal, and a third signal region to output the second color difference signal.
 8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rear side of the housing has a recessed region, the input terminal extends from the housing to the recessed region in a downward direction, and the connecting the single pin shaped output terminal to the display unit comprises inserting the single pin shaped output terminal in an upward direction into the input terminal.
 9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the single pin shaped output terminal with cables extending therefrom is disposed within the recessed region when the cable assembly is connected to the input terminal.
 10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cable assembly comprises a plurality of cables disposed between the single pin shaped output terminal and the first, second, and third input connectors, and each of the plurality of cables has a length which differs from the lengths of other cables of the plurality cables so that the first, second, and third input connectors do not overlap each other.
 11. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the pin shaped output terminal further comprises a ground region which is connected to ground points of the first, second, and third input connectors.
 12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first signal region, the second signal region, the third signal region and the ground region are provided sequentially lengthwise along the single pin shaped output terminal, and an insulating material is disposed between each of the first signal region, the second signal region, the third signal region, and the ground region. 